Tammy

"Ding-dong!" The doorbell went as Ash sat back and waited for his friend. She was definitely an odd ball, but she was cool. She believed in the paranormal and swore to everyone that she had a doll in her room that talked at night. It sounded hard to believe, but only if you had never seen her do a ritual before. She was serious.

"Hi Ash. What's up?" Tammy's mother said through the screen door, smiling sweetly.

"Oh, hi missus huberndt. Can I chat with Tammy?" Ash said politely, glancing at the spring flowers that grew in their yard.

She eyed his turtleneck. "Why yes of course, but honey, isn't it a bit too hot to be wearing something like a turtleneck?"

Ugh. This was going to happen all day wasn't it? "Yes missus huberndt. I just wanted to catch up."

She opened the door and Ash went on up the stairs to Tammy's room. Glancing in, he could see some books scattered on the floor and her bed. She wasn't there though. He started to turn around and felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Boo! Hi Ash! What're you doin here?" Ash jumped. Tammy. He turned back around and gave her a look. "Did you really have to say 'boo'? That is probably the cheesiest thing ever."

She sighed and squinted at him. "You would have never reacted like that. Why are you on edge? And why are you-" Ash cut her off. "Wearing a turtleneck? I know, I'll tell you when we get in your room. Close the door."

She gave a look of curiosity, and stepped into the room, Ash following with the door. "Ok, some wierd shit happened to me recently."

Tammy gave another look. "And?" Ash took a quick glance at the door to make sure Tammy's mother wasn't outside. He tensed. Hopefully she could help him. "I almost died from...well, a demon or something. Or maybe a ghost? Or a spirit? I have no idea..." Tammy thought for a moment. "Your not yanking my chain right? Because this is serious. Like, really serious."

Ash swallowed hard. "Oh god no Tammy, I... I couldn't, not after what the hell just happened to me." She gave a look. "And what exactly happened to you?"

Ash glanced at a book on the floor. "I er-well, to be to the point, I was beat up and thrown off the car bridge over the river where the dam broke, and as I was trying to get out, something... saw me. It was a figure on the side of the river. Then when I was taking my shower in the morning today, it came back and it...choked me. Nothing else has happened yet, except that I have the feeling someone's always in the room with me." He pulled his collar down so Tammy could see the bruising.

"Oh god what the hell did that thing want with you..." she muttered, looking at him in awe. "There's more on my back. It held me down." Ash replied, lifting the back of his shirt up. She thought hard for a minute or two.

"Any demonic or paranormal creature that wants to hurt someone to this extent is looking for revenge. Do you know your family history?" She said as if he was an interesting case file she could look through.

Ash swallowed and looked back at the door. Tammy didn't know anything about his family, but he would have to tell her about his father and his side... he didn't know if that was safe though. He didn't know if that could end up badly, considering his father had beaten many people, and his grandfather had forced him to the point that he actually wanted to do it. He'd almost killed ash and his mother years ago. But what if maybe what that thing had mouthed to him was something about his father or...someone he had killed? Yes, he would have to tell her.

"Tammy" He said, looking at the window.

"Yeah?" She said back hopefully.

Ash swallowed. "I'll tell you how fucked up my family's history is, as long as you don't say a word."

She smiled. "Roger that, cappy."